FRIDAY night at the Manchester Evening News Arena was always going to be a special event for thousands of pop fans.

For months they watched and waited for their idol - heart-throb Justin Timberlake - to wow them and last night the 22-year-old pin-up didn't disappoint.

Even before his entrance the Arena was a sea of banners, whistles and Mexican waves.

And the appearance of Manchester "royalty" - David and Victoria Beckham - sent the crowd into overdrive.

Female fans screamed and leaped on to the seats or rushed over to their executive suite to get a glimpse of the golden couple and it was a scene that was repeated several times.

The Beckhams, like the 15,000-strong crowd, were also enjoying the party atmosphere but when the lights went out all eyes were on centre stage for the arrival of Justin.

The moment he slid down a 30-ft pole, he proved that he was no longer in the shadow of *NSYNC or ex-squeeze Britney Spears. Dressed head-to-toe in white, which revealed a buff body, he launched into Rock Your Body to an ecstatic reception from the crowd.

Silky moves and impressive choreography ensured that the overwhelmingly- female audience lapped up his every twist and turn. Album tracks such as Still On My Brain, Senorita, Last Night and Let's Take A Ride gave Justin the opportunity to show off his vocal abilities.

He hovered above the crowd on a hydraulic platform to display his dazzling skills as a human beatbox, danced on a piano, performed a reverse snake-charmer trick by making the microphone disappear into the stage and danced to within an inch of his life.

There was another surprise to come - even if it wasn't from Justin.

During the penultimate track of the night, there were more screams and more female fans leaping on seats.

The sizeable Beckham entourage glided down the Arena stairs to be ushered backstage. True pro Justin carried on singing, unaware perhaps that he was being unintentionally upstaged.